Business owner unveils plans for unoccupied building downtown

November marks National Adoption Month

Palmer family says it's the perfect time to think about how you can help kids in need

ANCHORAGE – Parents love their children unconditionally; Ryan and Sarah Staten are no different. They get a lot of love back from their four kids, too.

“I think my mom and dad are the best mom and dad ever in the whole wide world,” said five-year-old Presley.

Becoming a family of six wasn’t easy, though.

“Someone told us you’re never going to feel completely ready, so just start taking the next step and see where it goes and that’s what we did,” Sarah said.

When the couple decided to adopt their two girls, Presley and Riley, it took almost a year for each to go through the foster care system. They said it was well worth the wait.

“We’ve been very blessed to have them in our family,” Ryan said. “They talk about going to your forever family and that’s what we’ve been fortunate enough to do two times, and I’d never change anything. That’s our family and you don’t look at it any differently. I know we don’t.”

Each month, about 1,200 kids in Alaska are in foster care. November is National Adoption Month, and the Statens said it’s a great time to start thinking of other ways you can get involved.

“Food drives and summer camps, presents at Christmastime. Organizing those resources is what’s led us to try to help train and equip other families,” Ryan said.

Sarah added, “If you’re older and feel like you’ve already raised kids you can go alongside a younger family that’s embarking on this journey and support them and be grandparents and stuff and help out.”

Anchorage will celebrate National Adoption Day Nov. 15, when 40 kids will officially be welcomed into their forever families.

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